Only Caritas is operating at full speed in quake zone
Islamabad (AsiaNews) Caritas' field office in Mansehra, about 70 kilometres north of Islamabad, is now fully operational, up and running 24 hours a day. It was set up to cope with the post-quake situation, distributing relief aid and funds from around the world, said Mgr Joseph Coutts, Bishop of Faisalabad and chairman of Caritas Pakistan.
"Caritas Germany realised right away how serious the situation was and what the needs were and so shipped us 1,200 tents and more than 13,000 blankets which we are distributing throughout Kashmir," Bishop Coutts told AsiaNews. "Some 200 tents went to Bala Kot, a town almost completely flattened by the quake. Now we have turned out attention to Saidabad, a town higher up in the mountains."
Emergency field coordinator Tariq Raza, his one assistant, and four volunteers are working around the clock. "They are travelling to remoter villages on the outskirts of Mansehra and Bala Kot where aid has not reached yet. They bring tents, clothing and human warmth. I have not seen them sleep yet," the Bishop added.
On his way back to Lahore, Bishop Coutts stopped in other affected area where the archdiocese has set up an informal shelter for displaced families. There he met the local parish priest, Father Inayat Patras, and Father Miguel. Father Miguel travelled to Muzaffarabad from Lahore immediately after the earthquake to help out local communities.
"Father Miguel returned from Muzaffarabad three days after the earthquake with fifteen Christian families who had lost everything and did not want to remain," Bishop Coutts said.
On October 19 Denis Vienot, Caritas International chairman, and Karl Ammann of Caritas Germany visited the affected areas along with two representatives of Caritas Pakistan. They saw the two water purification units sent by Caritas France in operation. Mr Vienot confirmed that all sections within the Caritas network will continue sending relief in cash and kind.
Verenia Keet, an official with Caritas Pakistan's Information Office, said that "some 1,200 tents and 13,000 blankets were sent by the German section which is sending an additional 1,000 tents, not to mention the water purification units.
Altogether 650,000 euros arrived from the Spanish, Scottish, Croatian, Czech and Australian sections, which have been immediately turned into tents, clothing and food.
Although Caritas's efforts should be the quintessential drop in the bucket of international relief, it is often the only relief that is getting through.
"We thought the tsunami was as worse as it could get. This is worse. We have never had this kind of logistical nightmare ever," UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland said. "Tens of thousands of people's lives are at stake and they could die if we don't get to them in time."
"I expect results. There are no excuses," said Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Mr Annan complained that donors had only made firm commitments of 12 per cent of the UN flash appeal, while the Asian tsunami appeal had been more than 80 percent funded within 10 days of the disaster.
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14/10/2005
